Programs Help with my plan to get into research about bound states

[marsrover]

Hi community

My aim is to get into research about atoms, specifically, I want to do experimental research that explores questions like:
1. Why do Gallium/Mercury have low melting points
2. Why are there so many exceptions and inconsistencies when it comes to explaining molecular structures / reaction mechanisms in inorganic and organic chemistry
3. Experimental research about fundamental Quantum Mechanics, such as the one being followed by Hiroshima university that proved that observing photons in double slit experiments does not need to collapse the wavefunction, and experimental techniques such as weak measurements can help with that.

I am planning to pursue a Bachelor's followed by a PhD in Physics / Physical Chemistry. Here's the plan:

Bachelor's in Physics while taking Physical and Quantum Chemistry subjects, with research in any particle physics group I can get my hands on.
PhD.

I want to understand if this is indeed the correct path, and if the community has any recommendations.

Thanks

 

[jedishrfu]

An alternative path would be to get into Chemistry --> BS --> P-Chem --> PhD

Some folks will add in a backdoor to their plans where if things get too tough doing PhD research you can always fall back to a MS degree.

Yet another path could be a Computer Science PhD where you do computer modeling of molecular systems to answer your questions. The advantage here is a Computer Science degree has always been seen as a markettable degree by many companies.

One caveat though: the LLM revolution has placed shade over Computer Science degrees as many students are experiencing great difficulty in landing their first job or internship.

One Berkeley professor remarked that his CompSci students had the pick of internships and jobs but not now. He felt that there is something going on, a fundamental shift in the industry and he's not sure what that is.

https://www.businessinsider.com/computer-science-students-job-search-ai-hany-farid-2025-9

 

[Muu9]

An alternative path would be to get into Chemistry --> BS --> P-Chem --> PhD

Some folks will add in a backdoor to their plans where if things get too tough doing PhD research you can always fall back to a MS degree.

Yet another path could be a Computer Science PhD where you do computer modeling of molecular systems to answer your questions. The advantage here is a Computer Science degree has always been seen as a markettable degree by many companies.

One caveat though: the LLM revolution has placed shade over Computer Science degrees as many students are experiencing great difficulty in landing their first job or internship.

One Berkeley professor remarked that his CompSci students had the pick of internships and jobs but not now. He felt that there is something going on, a fundamental shift in the industry and he's not sure what that is.

https://www.businessinsider.com/computer-science-students-job-search-ai-hany-farid-2025-9

I feel like a Physics BS with quantum and physical chemistry courses added would be a better preparation for OP's goals than a Chemistry BS.

 

[CrysPhys]

Hi community

My aim is to get into research about atoms, specifically, I want to do experimental research that explores questions like:
1. Why do Gallium/Mercury have low melting points
2. Why are there so many exceptions and inconsistencies when it comes to explaining molecular structures / reaction mechanisms in inorganic and organic chemistry
3. Experimental research about fundamental Quantum Mechanics, such as the one being followed by Hiroshima university that proved that observing photons in double slit experiments does not need to collapse the wavefunction, and experimental techniques such as weak measurements can help with that.

I am planning to pursue a Bachelor's followed by a PhD in Physics / Physical Chemistry. Here's the plan:

Bachelor's in Physics while taking Physical and Quantum Chemistry subjects, with research in any particle physics group I can get my hands on.
PhD.

I want to understand if this is indeed the correct path, and if the community has any recommendations.

Thanks

* In US universities, the typical path is to complete a BS physics and then continue to a PhD physics program (MS not required to apply for PhD program). In many universities in other countries, however, the typical path is to complete a BS physics, complete a MS physics, and then go on to a PhD physics position (MS required to apply for PhD position). Your profile shows that you're in India. You need to identify a candidate list of universities you wish to pursue graduate physics programs in and see what the application requirements are.

* Doing undergrad research in a particle physics group will take you too far afield. There is only so much you can cram in, regardless of the wide scope of your interests. I would recommend pursuing undergrad research in condensed matter physics.

 

[jedishrfu]

I feel like a Physics BS with quantum and physical chemistry courses added would be a better preparation for OP's goals than a Chemistry BS.

I would say that too except the OP mentioned P-Chem and people I’ve met in P-Chem were PhD Chemists who may have come from either a physics or a chemistry background.

Having said that, keep in mind that terminology between the fields are different. I recall struggling with a chemists understanding of entropy vs a physics understanding vis statistical mechanics. Perhaps it's changed in the past forty years or so. But it's something to aware of.

 

[marsrover]

* In US universities, the typical path is to complete a BS physics and then continue to a PhD physics program (MS not required to apply for PhD program). In many universities in other countries, however, the typical path is to complete a BS physics, complete a MS physics, and then go on to a PhD physics position (MS required to apply for PhD position). Your profile shows that you're in India. You need to identify a candidate list of universities you wish to pursue graduate physics programs in and see what the application requirements are.

* Doing undergrad research in a particle physics group will take you too far afield. There is only so much you can cram in, regardless of the wide scope of your interests. I would recommend pursuing undergrad research in condensed matter physics.

Thanks for the advice :) Will def keep in mind to join a condensed matter lab if I get the chance.